Vow
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2022 12:49 pm
Vow
"Don't make any promises that you can't keep,"
Naming Dream
A tribe in peril. All eyes look to her. She promises to protect all in need. She fails. She will never fail again. That is her vow.
Storytelling
The Serpent & The Mouse
RP
✦ Mist-Shrouded Obelisk Sacrifice - Water + 6 pts
✦ Mist-Shrouded Obelisk Sacrifice - Air + 6 pts
✦ Mist-Shrouded Obelisk Sacrifice - Fire + 6 pts
✦ Mist-Shrouded Obelisk Sacrifice - Earth + 6 pts
✦ FINALE ORP: The Other Obelisks +5 pts
✦ Trek to the Caves (AGAIN?!) + 1 pt
Art
✦ Stand Tall by Baneful + 2 pts
✦ Exploring the Caves + 2 pts
✦ Fishing in the Caves + 4 pts
✦ Visions of the Plains + 4 pts
✦ Visions of the Desert +2 pts
✦ Visions of the Mountains + 4 pts
✦ By Scara + 2 pts
✦ By Seru + 2 pts
Total : 52/50
Plot Synopsis
I. Growing Up
Vow was born in the mountains in a loving, yet fearsome matriarchal tribe. From a young age, she learned how to fight, and her impressively sharp horns and huge, bulky form gave her quite the advantage over her peers. Just before adulthood, tribe customs dictated that she must go on her first adventure in order to become a true member of the tribe. All of the young ones were split into small adventuring parties and lovingly tossed down the mountain.
II. The First Adventure
"You can go anywhere, explore anything - except the Swamp." The tribe leader warned. "Do not go near it," Vow and her party members heeded the warnings and were just keen to wander about until they found something interesting. Eventually they settled on traveling to the plains. Nothing super eventful occurred for most of Vow's first adventure, but she made new friends and learned that she really enjoyed this sort of thing.
III. Meeting Her
But then, Vow met her. A beautiful doe with a long black mane and eyes the color of the sky. She was more interested in the vegetation the group had been collecting than anything else - but Vow was instantly smitten. She had never seen someone so small and delicate - and yet so abrasive and downright angry when someone stepped on a mushroom she was examining. Vow was quiet and reserved, but She was loud and bright. Every day spent with her made Vow realize that this was something special. She couldn't leave this. When it was time for her party to travel on, she took a deep breath... and stayed behind.
IV. Following Her
Vow and her love stayed in the plains for a long time. They made friends, built a little community of travelers and strange kin that were really interested in studying plants and animals. Vow was out of her depth as they chatted about different mushrooms and herbs and fish, but she was always content to listen. It was peaceful here. The only time she ever really needed to protect anyone was from the occasional curious lion or giant spider... and sometimes she had to protect the kin from themselves when they would want to eat strange and potentially dangerous mushrooms.
Everything was great, until they said they needed to move. They had to go to the Swamp. That's where their curiosity was pointing them. Vow thought back to her tribe leader's warning. Don't go near the Swamp.
But her love was going to the Swamp, so Vow had no choice but to follow.
V. The Ache
Life in the Swamp was actually not so different from life in the plains. There was a strange feeling in her bones when she passed the border, but she seemed to be the only one unnerved by it. Her friends quickly set up a small community like they had in the plains and life went on. But it was... stranger. Everything seemed a bit more dangerous and set her on edge.
But, eventually that passed.
VI. Peace
Vow was always taking odd jobs around their little part of the Swamp. Anyone that needed an escort somewhere always asked for her, because despite being the quietest and kindest - she was the biggest and scariest looking kin among them. She rarely encountered problems during her travels. Everything was calm and Vow felt at peace with the comfortable routine.
Seasons passed. The community grew and families came to settle in the Swamp with them. Her mate's family had moved into the Swamp too. The community was large and prosperous. Vow was happy.
Then, everything changed.
VII. Losing Her
It was close to Winter Market time, when everything went wrong. The snow on the ground reminded her of the mountains. She missed the mountains. Recently, things were getting stranger. More dangerous. Food was going missing and dens were being damaged. Strange howls could be heard at night. Vow made it a point to stay home to keep an eye on things. But kin always needed her help.
While Vow was helping other kin, her mate went off to help her family with Winter Market preparations. Vow told her to be careful.
Then she never saw her again.
After that, one by one, her family and friends either moved away, went missing or suffered a tragic fate. Some whispered that it was a curse. Others said it was a roving group of killers. Vow was too despondent to realize her community was falling to pieces around her. When she was the only one left, she stayed there for a long while, wallowing in misery. Then, she stumbled upright, took a deep breath, and went back to what she knew how to do best. Helping others.
She never saw anyone from her old community again, but she found other travelers and tribes where she offered to help and guard. Emotionally, she was closed off and cold. Nothing ever felt quite right after her mate died. But she knew that she would've wanted Vow to continue to help others. So Vow did that for a long time.... until she felt a pull.
VIII. The Caves
TRAUMAAAA and confronting of traumaaaa Fill this in later
IX. The Plains
Vow feels nostalgic as they arrive at and explore the Plains. She remembers being young and wild and abandoning an adventure for love at first sight. She watches Death run towards a Kimeti covered in flowers and swears that they won't end up like her.
X. The Journey Home
Eventually the ache pulls them back towards the Swamp. Vow and Death bond over their mutual trauma and growth. They've been through a lot, but they're still good and kind. Death thinks that's amazing. Vow makes a habit of pointing out all of the weird plants her lover used to obsess over while they walk. With each plant, the pain dulls. Every night they sleep out under the stars and stare up at the moon. One night, they're visited by two bright, ghostly eagles. Vow is wary, but Death is delighted and calls it a sign. She names hers "Hope" and Vow, looking at the bright blue ghostly plumage, names hers "Lost Love".
XI. Searching for Blood
Vow and Death make it back in time for this year's Winter Market. But things are stranger than usual, and Vow has a terrible feeling that Blood is not okay. A group of travelers are looking for kin to join them on a journey back to the caves. Vow joins them on a quest to find Blood and bring him back.
Why?
Vow likes to consider herself a beacon of good in the swamp. She protects the weak, takes care of the needy and often finds herself as a protector-for-hire because she's big and strong and intimidating. But she wants to be more. She wants to do more. As a legendary, Vow would be able to do that. Her biggest dream is to build a community where she can keep everyone safe and happy. All of the friends that she has made on her travels would have a home with her. Anyone in need, wandering, lost or injured would be welcome and taken care of. While giving others a safe home, she would have her own home, which is what she's always wanted.